ABSTRACT: The objective of our study was to explore the factors that promote and threaten hope among adolescents and young adults (AYA) living with HIV from northwestern Paraná, Brazil. A qualitative study was conducted with 22 AYA living with HIV receiving care at the Specialized Care Service located in the Paraná region (Brazil). Data were collected between September and November 2024 through semi-structured interviews based on an adaptation of the Mutual Aid Intervention Model for Promoting Hope. Two categories emerged from the data analysis: (a) "I have a strong will to live, I have a lot to live for": factors that promote hope; (b) "Society's prejudice and my own": factors that threaten hope. Factors that promote hope generate motivation, self-confidence, trust, strength, tranquility, and optimism. Those that threaten hope generate insecurity, anxiety, sadness, shame, guilt, and fear. Therefore, health care professionals should look for strategies to promote hope and thereby increase mental health for AYA living with HIV.
Piran et al. (Tue,) studied this question.